Books are to be distinguished by the grandeur of their topics even more than by the manner in which they are treated.

We live thick and are in each other's way, and stumble over one another, and I think we thus lose some respect for one another.

The stars are the jewels of the night, and perchance surpass anything which day has to show.

What sort of philosophers are we, who know absolutely nothing of the origin and destiny of cats?

The merely political aspect of the land is never very cheering; men are degraded when considered as the members of a political organization.

The perception of beauty is a moral test.

I have made a very rude translation of the Seven against Thebes, and Pindar too I have looked at, and wish he was better worth translating. I believe even the best things are not equal to their fame. Perhaps it would be better to translate fame itself,--or is not that what the poets themselves do? However, I have not done with Pindar yet.